tawaik

Hoping that everything works out for all of passengers and crew.

Very nice review and awesome photos. Looking forward to reading more about your adventure.

BTW, the towel cake looks great :)

I think you are the one who is misleading people as Carnival sends those messages to stagger boarding times. Not everyone gets a notice to board from 1:30-4PM. We have gotten them saying to be at the port at 11AM, others have gotten them for later.

 

They are also taking into consideration that there are people who will 1- be arriving by plane and will arrive earlier than 1:30 2- people who are staying in hotels with check out times like 11AM or noon, and 3-people who feel they can do whatever the heck they want and show up when they want.

 

Whether you agree or not, it is just to make things easier for people to board, the intent is not to tick you off!

I have to agree with you on this one. I stayed in a hotel pre-cruise and my boarding said to arrive at 1:30. After checking out, there several people lounging around the hotel lobby. After chatting with a family while my husband made a run to Walgreen's in San Juan, PR she mentioned their boarding time was not until 12:30 and decided to wait around.

Although our boarding was 1:30 we left left a little before 12:00 and was on the ship not far after that. Therefore, I think Carnival takes into consideration flights arriving that day and guest who arrive the day before to prevent overcrowding.

I book my cruise on CCL on line, email my TA and turn the booking over to her to get some added perks. OBC and surprise gifts are a plus.

I check for price drops on my own and just contact her ask her check and if there is drop I get a new invoice by email.

For my upcoming cruise, TA booked for me.

this is awesome to know thanks

:D Your welcome.

Here a few thing I learned to bring with me or to do:

1.Snacks for the cabin, gum, candy and packaged nuts. Can be taken with you while on excursions. Cherries on Top costs too much!

2. Pop-up hamper for dirty clothes.

3. Wine of course :) Saves on purchasing drinks and there are two wine glasses in your cabin waiting for you.

3. Always pre-pay gratuities. Have witness people removing them from their bill after receiving good service.

4. Purchase the 12-pk of water at the Fun Shops online which is now 2.99.

5. Don't go picture crazy. Decided to purchase just one. I have a camera :)

6. Bring a positive attitude and try not to sweat the small stuff. Sure, go ahead and just get some bacon some me in the line, its bacon after all.

I'm presently book on for an Oct. 26 sailing with the casino rate. I asked if there was a price drop would I be entitled to it. CS said no since I did not book early saver.

Very nice review!!

No matter what cruise line you choose to spend your money on, it is still up to you how you wish to spend your money on board the ships. One does not have to order room service, eat in up priced restaurants and purchase the unlimited drink or dining package.

NCL and all cruise lines nickle and dime us in some type of way. I just think it is up to the individual to decide to make their choices on what is more important to them and what they really want to spend their money on to have a great vacation.

I always plan to spend no more than $xxx.xx amount on board outside of excursions, my casino gambling and small gifts for friends and family.

Awesome review!!! Thanks for sharing :)

My cruise for 2017 will be on the Pride. We want to depart from a home port for a change.

Summer cruises will have a lot of kids. There is no way to get around that.

We decided to cruise at the end of April right after Spring break or in the early Fall. I would prefer to sail with more kids than Spring Breakers.

Regardless, you will have a great time!! Enjoy your cruise :) I have a long wait for my next sail date.

Your reviews tells a great cruise story!! Love your pics and how you like to get out and enjoy the islands :)

My first cruise on the Sky we received an invite to Officers dinner. Was very nice to meet new people and chat the heads of some of the divisions on the ship. We also received a bottle of wine and a plate of chocolates from NCL. Great unexpected gifts for a second time cruiser :)

We cruised the Conquest on June 13, with some trepidation given the mixed reviews. However, this was one of our favorite ships. It is a great size with lots of dining options. We enjoyed all of them, including the steak house, Guy's Burgers, fish and chips, Blue Iguana cantina, sea dogs and the best pizza on any ship.

 

Our daughter and son-in-law tried some of the pay items on the room service menu, and that pizza was horrible. One loved the wings, the other not so much.

 

Our balcony cabins were in good shape. Hubby loved the gym and used the locker room for daily showers. Ladies locker room was very nice. We used the sauna and steam room a few times.

 

Staff was very attentive, from the cabin attendants to main dining room wait team.

 

Our only complaint was disembarking. But I blame that on Port Everglades. We will gladly cruise the Conquest again.

Did you have to purchase a spa pass to use the sauna and steam room? Is there a hot tube in the gym?

Looking forward to rest of your review. Thanks for sharing.

I'm a native New Yorker and sailed from Manhattan many years ago. The scenery in the city at night is just beautiful.

Enjoying your review and looking forward to reading more :)

I didn't know that you can't mention that site. Did they ever say why?

Lets just say that I received a "warning" email from a moderator. I mentioned the placed that people "like" things :)

I love having this on the balcony in the late afternoon.

 

I just run up to the lido deck and make my own little tray (plate) with the cheeses, meats and olives in the buffet area. I make sure to go around 5:30 when the lido is open for dinner.

This is a great idea. I have to remember this one :)

I see someone already linked my review. Thanks.

 

Yes, you do see the ship names at the top of the page, right? They're all right there. And more.

 

There used to be a Conquest-only thread. I love those "All Things Shipname" threads and it would be SO helpful if the mods would create a folder at the top of the board and have one dedicated thread per ship stored there.

 

Oh well. I'm not in charge here (I know, it's difficult to tell some times, isn't it? :p ).

:D I linked your review :D Loved your review!! Full of great information about the Conquest. Thank you so much again for sharing your experience!!

Here is a recent review of the Conquest.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2220784

You can also see more by clicking on reviews from the homepage, select the cruise line and then select the ship name.

Embassy Suites is near the airport and offers a free shuttle service to the hotel,

Manager's Reception with adult drinks and snacks, Free hot breakfast, shuttle service to near by restaurants and stores within a 3 mile radius from hotel, shuttle service from the hotel to port for a reasonable fee and there is a restaurant within walking distance from the hotel.

Check their website for Cruise Packages that include shuttle service to the port.

Have a great cruise!!

We haven't booked the hotel yet. This is what was suggested to us in other threads, so I though it would be easiest. :confused: We are going out of Galveston. I was told it could be up to an hour from the airport area to the cruise terminal. Just sounded like a lot of $$ for a cab!

I can understand being confused. I just got finished doing some research for cruises leaving out of Galveston, TX and discovered that the nearest airport is in Houston. Ugh!!!! We were planning to take my Stepson and GF. I told DH that we really have to plan this one down to the letter due to the port not being so close to the Airport. Your plan to stay at a hotel near the airport, taking the hotel shuttle back to the airport on departure day and using the Carnival transportation is a great idea.

My original reply read that would be inconvenient now that is not the case :)

Hope everything works out for you. Have a wonderful cruise!

We've never taken an airplane to a cruise before, so this will be new to us. We are flying in the night before to Galveston. We will be spending the night at a hotel close to the airport. Then the next morning, will return to the airport to take the Carnival Transfers to the cruise terminal.

 

some questions...

 

What time do we get to the airport?

 

Where do we meet the transfer people?

 

Will FTTF help us out at all if we do transfers? (both getting there and returning back to the airport)

 

Thanks.

Where you staying pre-cruise? What port are you leaving from? Does your pre-cruise hotel offer FREE shuttle service back to the airport?

Most people normally leave from their pre-cruise hotel and take a cab or take advantage of the shuttle service if offered at the hotel (sometimes free or at a cost).

IMHO it seems like an inconvenience to go back to a busy airport just to get the shuttle take you from the cruise port. Carnival does have a shuttle booth or area at most airports and normally people just getting off flights on the same day of the cruise may opt to use this service.

Check with your pre-cruise hotel for a shuttle service or you can just take cab from the hotel.

Faster to the Fun does apply to getting to the port. FTTF will apply once your checked in at the cruise terminal.

Correct me if I'm wrong CC veteran cruisers :)

Enjoyed your review :)

Without asking, you answered some of my questions about the casino offer and what that entailed. Thanks!!

I know in the past children under 18 do not need a passport, but with our cruise so close I just need other people's reassurance. I looked it up months ago and she was still able to use valid ID and birth certificate. We are cruising out of Miami and back into Miami. We are going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. I had every intention of getting her a passport and even had the pictures taken but life got in the way and I never sent for it. We leave in two weeks. She is 16 years old.

 

Thanks,

Desperate in Kentucky

Go ahead and travel with her with her ID and birth certificate.

I'm an acceptance agent for the Dept. of State. When you are ready to follow through to obtain her passport, she is at the age where you she can apply on her own (of course you can be with her) using a state issued ID issued by the Dept. of Motor Vehicles in your state and her original Birth Certificate.

Have a great cruise with your family :)